| Grant number: | 12/06875-6 |
| Support type: | Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants |
| Duration: | September 01, 2012 - August 31, 2016 |
| Field of knowledge: | Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology |
| Principal Investigator: | Emerson Soares Bernardes |
| Grantee: | Emerson Soares Bernardes |
| Home Institution: | Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | Andréia Hanada Otake ; Bluma Linkowski Faintuch ; Bryan Eric Strauss ; Camila Maria Longo Machado ; Dulcineia Saes Parra Abdalla ; Fabio Luiz Navarro Marques ; Ivone Carvalho ; Josefina da Silva Santos ; Lorena Pozzo ; Luciana Nogueira de Sousa Andrade ; Marcelo Dias Baruffi ; Peterson Lima Squair ; Philip Elsinga ; Roger Chammas ; Vanessa Leiria Campo |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 14/02317-4 - Development and Production of Positron Emission Tomography Radiopharmaceuticals for Diagnostic Purposes in Oncology, BP.JP |
Abstract
Radiopharmaceuticals are agents (medicines, biological products) labeled with radionuclides and widely used in the field of nuclear medicine as tracers in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cancer. Over the past 50 years, nuclear medicine research centers around the world have invested much effort in developing new radiopharmaceuticals for application in cancer imaging and therapy. In Brazil, the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical purposes was a Monopoly up to 2006, and during this period the investment in research and development was not enough to sustain growth. Currently, 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) is the only PET tracer produced in Brazil and it is the most widely used tracer for studies of tumor metabolism in oncology. However, FDG accumulation is not specific to tumors and can be present in various conditions including inflammation and benign processes. These limitations have prompted research into more specific biomarkers of cancer. The main purpose of this project is to start a new line of independent research with focus on the design and development of new radiotracers for PET (18F) imaging in oncology. Therefore, we propose the synthesis of novel tracers able to: (1) detect the expression of angiotensin II receptors in tumors; (2) detect the presence and extent of hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment and; (3) determine the glycosylation pattern associated with tumor progression in vivo. We also propose to study the biodistribution of bio-molecules associated with tumor progression and evaluate new anti-cancer therapy approaches taking advantage of the use of radiopharmaceuticals described in the literature. It should be noted that these new tracers were proposed so that we could work together with research teams of recognized scientific competence in Sao Paulo State as well as optimize resource utilization. In addition, the synthesis of known tracers will favor integration between research groups and institutions located in the Clinics Hospital complex and open new perspectives in cancer research. A major challenge to overcome is the establishment of the necessary conditions for the synthesis and development of 18F-labeled bio-molecules in the center for preclinical research at the SMN-InRad-HC-FMUSP (Department of Nuclear Medicine of the Institute of Radiology, Clinics Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo). After overcoming the initial challenge of setting up the laboratory infrastructure, the project will lead to an increase in the human resources capabilities and prepare professionals in several research areas, such as: Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physics, Biology, and Medicine. Finally, it will contribute to the further development of molecular imaging research at the InRad HC-FMUSP. (AU)